As with all food and wine pairings, chocolate and wine pairing is personal, and it often comes down to taste buds. The rule of thumb when pairing wine with food or chocolate is to find foods that complement the wine rather than match it. Perhaps the best rule with wine as with chocolate, is to indulge in what you love. Be guided by pairing suggestions, but if you find a combination you particularly enjoy, go with it!
In general, the creamier the chocolate, the lighter the body of wine. The richer the chocolate, the fuller the body of the wine. Similar to formal wine tasting, you can experiment with a varieties of chocolates. Work from light white chocolate through milk chocolate and end on the drier notes of dark chocolate with light-bodied to full-bodied wines. By starting with the more understated nuances of white chocolate and ending with dark or bittersweet chocolate, you will keep your palate from starting on overdrive and missing the subtle sweet sensations found in more delicate chocolate choices (and wine).
What is the difference between Milk Chocolate and Dark Chocolate? Milk chocolate contains 30-40 % cocoa solids, whereas dark chocolate contains at least 60 % cocoa solids.
How do I choose the best quality chocolate? Chocolate that has a glossy surface and is free from blemishes is the best quality. If the surface is cloudy or gray, this may be a sign that chocolate is old or has been subject to extremes in temperature or handling. Be sure to read the ingredients list. Example: if a dark chocolate has synthetic vanillin rather than pure vanilla, the flavor may be altered.
| White Chocolate and Wine Pairing Suggestions: While white chocolate is not a true chocolate, you may still want to include it with a wine pairing. White chocolate tends to be more mellow and buttery in flavor, making it an ideal candidate for the sweeter styles wines | ü Brachetto d’Acqui ü Ice wine ü light Sherry ü Moscato d'Asti ü Rosé Port ü Sweet Rosé ü Tokaji Aszù |
| Milk Chocolate and Wine Pairing Suggestions: Since milk chocolate is part chocolate, part cream, it's not only delicious but versatile to pair. Milk chocolate is made from dark chocolate that has a lower cocoa solid content and higher sugar content. | ü Alsace Pinot Gris ü Champagne ü Gewurztraminer ü Lambrusco ü Light Port ü Lighter Pinot Noir ü Madeira ü Malvasia delle Lipari ü Mavrodaphne of Patras ü Muscat ü Petite Sirah ü Riesling ü Sauternes ü Vin Santo ü Viognier |
| Dark Chocolate and Wine Pairing Suggestion: Unlike Milk chocolates, dark chocolates needs more attention while pairing. Dark chocolates contain more polyphenols, which gives it a bitter taste. It requires bolder strong red wines with dominant fruit or berry notes, with higher alcohol levels. | ü Amarone della Valpolicella ü Banyuls ü Barolo Chinato ü Bordeaux ü Cabernet Sauvignon ü Dry Marsala ü Malbec ü Merlot ü Ruby Port ü Sangiovese ü Shiraz ü Vin Santo del Chianti |
